Rockets in need of some getting-to-know-you time

Having displayed so clearly their potential for good and for ill in the first three games of the James Harden-Jeremy Lin era, the Rockets return to Toyota Center on Monday for yet another phase of their extended series of getting-to-know you practices interspersed with getting-to-know-you games.

The Rockets don’t play again until Wednesday at home against Denver, so the next two days will provide more opportunities for Harden and Cole Aldrich, who arrived in a trade with Oklahoma City just before the season opener along with guard Daequan Cook, to adjust to their new teammates and vice versa.

“We don’t have a feel for each other. We’re just out there using our natural instincts,” Harden said Saturday night after the Rockets’ 95-85 overtime loss to Portland. “More practices and more games, and we should get better.”

Harden’s 82 points in opening wins over Detroit and Atlanta set an NBA record for the best opening two-game production by a team newcomer. He had a team-high 24 points against the Trail Blazers while playing 40:43, his third consecutive game with more than 39 minutes.

By comparison, he had just four 40-plus regular-season games last year with the Thunder, none of them in succession, and three games of 39 minutes or more in 2010-11.

McHale’s concerns
Coach Kevin McHale acknowledged the early load on Harden and said it would be addressed but added, “That will be an adjustment. He will adjust to that. That’s not a major concern.”

McHale’s concerns, as always, are tempo, player movement, ball movement, limiting turnovers and defensive structure, all of which have been lacking on occasion during the young Rockets’ 2-1 start and all of which will be addressed, no doubt, before Wednesday’s game.

“We look like a team that hasn’t been together a long time,” he said. “We were able to get away with it in a couple of games. We have to make sure to get ball movement. That will help James a great deal. Everybody has to help out with more flow.”

The Rockets also will have to adjust, McHale said, as teams adjust to the Lin-Harden backcourt combination and work to get the ball out of Harden’s hands more often. More motion on offense, he said, will benefit Lin by creating “more of a broken floor and giving him more step-ups and things to help him.”

‘We haven’t had time’
Marcus Morris had his second consecutive productive game off the bench while veteran guard Carlos Delfino had his second consecutive poor shooting night, hitting just four of his 15 shots during that period. Still, Delfino sees plenty of reason for optimism — and reality checks.

“We have to be realistic and optimistic,” he said. “We haven’t had time to play together. Almost every minute we’re on the court, especially with James and Cole, we are learning to play with each other. We’re working out during the games.

“We won two and had a chance to win (against Portland), so you have to be optimistic. Now, we have two days to regroup, to learn where (Harden and Aldrich) want the ball, to continue to grow and build.”

Houston's Cole Aldrich (31) battles for a loose ball against Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Cole Aldrich (31) battles for a loose ball against Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's Chandler Parsons (25) dunks the ball over Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Chandler Parsons (25) dunks the ball over Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's Chandler Parsons (25) dunks the ball over Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Chandler Parsons (25) dunks the ball over Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's James Harden (13) gestures to the audience during a time out during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's James Harden (13) gestures to the audience during a time out during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's Marcus Morris (2) hangs from the basket after scoring against Portland's Luke Babbitt (8) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Marcus Morris (2) hangs from the basket after scoring against Portland's Luke Babbitt (8) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) grabs the rebound over Houston's Cole Aldrich (31) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) grabs the rebound over Houston's Cole Aldrich (31) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's James Harden (13) against Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's James Harden (13) against Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's Jeremy Lin (7) passes the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Jeremy Lin (7) passes the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Rockets Carlos Delfino fights off the smog during player introductions before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Rockets Carlos Delfino fights off the smog during player introductions before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Jane Wagner wears her beard before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Jane Wagner wears her beard before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Rocket's James Harden (13) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Rocket's James Harden (13) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Rockets Carlos Delfino fights off the smog during player introductions before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Rockets Carlos Delfino fights off the smog during player introductions before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.